Ross & Smith Twin Islands.
Far north Andaman — most tourists never get past Havelock.WHY NOBODY KNOWS
Two islands connected by a natural sandbar you can walk across. Swim on one side, wade on the other.
Skip to contentII · THE VERDICT III · THE WINDOW · 12 MONTHS, SCORED IV · THE FIELD BRIEF V · THE RISKS · WHAT TO KNOW VI · THE ATLAS · WHERE TO POINT Nº 0110KM · 30MIN BY BOAT FROM DIGLIPUR VII · THE COST · THE CROWDS · THE GROUND Plan your Diglipur budgetTrip cost by days, travellers, month & style — a season-adjusted estimate.VIII · THE STAY · THE EAT Not sponsoredX · THE ITINERARY · DAY BY DAY XI · THE CODA
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ISSUE Nº 48 · JUNE 2026
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Diglipur.
Saddle Peak (highest point in Andaman), turtle nesting beaches, and the stunning Ross & Smith twin islands
VERIFIED APR 2026 · ISSUE Nº 48
4 MIN READ·Or skip to the verdict ↓
“Saddle Peak (highest point in Andaman), turtle nesting beaches, and the stunning Ross & Smith twin islands”
WHY SPECIAL
Northernmost accessible town. Saddle Peak National Park has the highest point at 732m. Kalipur Beach for olive ridley turtle nesting (Dec-Feb). Ross & Smith twin islands connected by a natural sandbar. Very basic infrastructure.
GO
WAIT
SKIP
Kids
4.0/10
Solo F
6.0/10
Crowd
QUIET
Cost
₹
Effort
MODERATE
Know before you go
- Price
- ₹500–2,000/night
- Best window
- Nov – Mar
- Access
- Port Blair: ferry 8-10hr (₹800-1200) or road via Baratang+Rangat (6-7hr, crosses Jarawa Reserve). 1 ferry daily.
- Emergency
- None — hire vehicle to PHC · Primary Health Centre, Diglipur — basic care only
Every month rated on the 0–10 editorial scale. Click any cell to read the month-specific verdict — what to do, what to skip, what crowds you'll meet.
↑ Tap any month for the full read · colours match verdict bands
Read our scoring methodology →
Live weather
ELEVATION
Northernmost accessible town. Saddle Peak National Park has the highest point at 732m. Kalipur Beach for olive ridley turtle nesting (Dec-Feb). Ross & Smith twin islands connected by a natural sandbar. Very basic infrastructure.
Every destination carries trade-offs. The cards below score the practical ones: confidence in the data, kids-suitability, solo-female read, and the emergency floor.
8.0
Safety Rating
North Andaman's largest town; bus + ferry hub to Port Blair (12 hr). Saddle Peak trek needs forest permit. Ross & Smith twin-island walk requires separate permit from Diglipur DFO.
🚗How to Reach
Port Blair: ferry 8-10hr (₹800-1200) or road via Baratang+Rangat (6-7hr, crosses Jarawa Reserve). 1 ferry daily.
Road: NH4 — single lane, decent but long
Public transport: 1 daily government ferry, occasional bus
Self-drive: Long drive through Jarawa Reserve — join convoy
🏠Where to Sleep
10 options (guesthouses, government-rest-house, homestays)
₹500–2,000/night
Walk-in, A&N Tourism
Emergency: Turtle Resort (A&N Tourism) at Kalipur — ₹1,500
⛽Fuel
Nearest: One petrol pump in Diglipur town (limited hours)
Next: Rangat (100km south)
⚠ Carry extra fuel
EV charging: Not available
🌙Weather at Night
Summer
24°C
Winter
22°C
Slightly cooler than Port Blair. Saddle Peak area can be misty. Tropical climate.
🚨Emergency Contacts
Hospital: Primary Health Centre, Diglipur — basic care only
Police: Diglipur Police Station
Rescue: Coast Guard via radio. Evacuate to Port Blair.
Ambulance: None — hire vehicle to PHC
Helpline: PHC Diglipur: ask locally. Serious: evacuate to Port Blair (8hr ferry)
📶Network Coverage
JioAirtelBSNLVi
WiFi: None
Only BSNL works, and only in Diglipur town. At Kalipur/Ross & Smith: completely offline.
KIDS · FAMILY READ
4.0
ADULTS
Minimum age: 10+ yrs
Best for: 12+
Stroller: Not possible
HIGHLIGHTS FOR KIDS
Turtle nesting at Kalipur Beach
Ross & Smith twin island sandbar
REASONS
Turtle nesting is educational and magical
Ross & Smith twin islands are stunning
CONCERNS
8-10 hour ferry from Port Blair
Very basic medical (PHC only)
No ATM
Remote with limited food options
Solo-female safety
6.0/10— Manageable, stay vigilant
North Andaman end-town — Ross & Smith islands + turtle beach. Sparse infrastructure, Turtle Resort is the pick. Ferry timings dictate plans.
Month by month
Jan
3
Feb
3
Mar
3
Apr
3
May
3
Jun
3
Jul
3
Aug
3
Sep
3
Oct
3
Nov
3
Dec
3
4–5 safe 3 vigilant 2 with operator 1 skip month-specific note closed
EMERGENCY · SOURCE-VERIFIED
Places to Visit in Diglipur
🏔️
Saddle Peak Trek
Highest point in Andaman & Nicobar archipelago at 732m elevation. Trek takes 3-4 hours round trip. Requires a guide. Panoramic views from the summit. Challenging but rewarding hike through forest.
🕐 4 hours🎫 Free
🏔️
Ross & Smith Twin Islands
Twin islands connected by a natural 50-meter sandbar. The sandbar submerges during high tide and emerges during low tide. Turquoise waters and pristine beaches. Accessible by boat from Aerial Bay Jetty.
🕐 3 hours🎫 Varies👶 Kid-friendly
🏔️
Kalipur Beach
Pristine long sandy stretch 18km from Diglipur, fringed by lush forests and coconut trees. Major nesting ground for four sea turtle species. Calm atmosphere with views of Saddle Peak. Limited development.
🕐 2 hours🎫 Free👶 Kid-friendly
HIDDEN GEMS · 3 NEAR DIGLIPUR
A network of 42 connected limestone caves with intact stalactites and stalagmites, far less commercialised than Baratang's Limestone Caves (no convoy, no boat fee, no entry ticket). Need own torch + flexible-soled shoes. Bats roost in the inner chambers — best entry 9-11 AM before they become active.
A chain of low cone-shaped mud volcanoes (each 0.5-2 m high) bubbling cool methane-laden mud from sub-surface organic decay. No fence, no ticket. Compared with the more-touristed Baratang craters, these are quieter, slightly larger, and the trek-in through evergreen forest is the experience itself. Worn-out grippy shoes essential — the surrounding slurry is slick.
OR INSTEAD · NEIGHBOURING READS
How Diglipur stacks against the closest alternatives.
WHAT CROWDS LOOK LIKE
JAN
PEAK
FEB
PEAK
MAR
PEAK
APR
MOD
MAY
MOD
JUN
QUIET
JUL
QUIET
AUG
QUIET
SEP
QUIET
OCT
MOD
NOV
PEAK
DEC
PEAK
Island trekking and turtle-watching peak Nov–Mar in dry season; monsoon Jun–Sep brings cyclone risk and heavy rainfall.
INFRASTRUCTURE · ON THE GROUND
How This Place Actually Works
Day-to-day logistics — what locals know that maps don't show.Taxis & local transport
Port Blair-Diglipur 325km road 10hr OR ferry 12-16hr.
Check-in / check-out norms
Pristine Resort + basic.
Cash vs UPI
Cash.
ATMs (real-world reliability)
Diglipur town.
Shop & restaurant hours
Town basic.
Language realities
Bengali + Hindi.
Internet backup plan
BSNL weak.
HOW TO REACH
AIRPORT
Veer Savarkar International, Port Blair (IXZ) + 8-10hr ferry or 6hr road
RAIL
N/A
WHERE TO EAT · 5 VERIFIED PICKS
CASUAL
Breakwater Resort Restaurant
Signature: Multi-cuisine thali + Andaman fish
Breakwater Resort is one of Diglipur's two anchor mid-range hotels (the other being Pristine Beach at Kalipur). Its in-house multi-cuisine restaurant is open to walk-in non-residents and is one of the few places in Diglipur town where you can get a proper Bengali fish-curry-rice plate at lunch.
Tip: For dinner phone ahead — kitchen closes at 9:30 PM. Veg-only requests need 30-min lead. Try the prawn-curry made with Aerial Bay catch.
DIGLIPUR TOWN, ~3 KM FROM AERIAL BAY· ₹₹· KIDS OK
CASUAL
Diglipur Bazar Bengali Dhabas
Signature: Bengali thali — rice + 5 sides
Cluster of 5-6 unnamed Bengali dhabas along Diglipur Bazar serving the local Bengali-settler community (Diglipur is 72% Bengali by mother-tongue, descendants of 1950s East-Pakistan refugees). Authentic mustard-oil fish curry + posto (poppy-seed) preparations not found elsewhere in A&N.
Tip: Eat where the locals eat — look for the dhaba with the longest queue at 1 PM. Stocks finish by 3 PM (no second-shift cooking). Cash only.
DIGLIPUR BAZAR MAIN ROAD· ₹· KIDS OK
CASUAL
Grand Foodiees
Signature: Bengali fish thali + Aerial Bay catch
Grand Foodiees opened near Aerial Bay jetty (the departure point for Ross & Smith Islands) as Diglipur's most reliable sit-down restaurant for tourists heading to the twin islands. Bengali is spoken by 72% of Diglipur tehsil — the kitchen reflects that with proper mustard-oil fish curry + Bengali sweet (rosogolla on order).
Tip: Order a packed lunch BEFORE you board the Ross & Smith boat — there is zero food on either island.
NEAR AERIAL BAY JETTY, DIGLIPUR· ₹₹· KIDS OK
CASUAL
EST. 2017
Saddle Peak View Resort Kitchen
Signature: Multi-cuisine + Kalipur fish
Saddle Peak View Resort opened January 2017 at Kalipur (4-min walk to the turtle-nesting beach, 8 km from Aerial Bay jetty). Its in-house multi-cuisine kitchen serves Bengali settler-style fish-curry-rice + standard Indian fare to walk-ins by reservation.
Tip: Best for early breakfast (6-8 AM) before the Saddle Peak summit trek (7-9 hour climb) — the kitchen will pack a trail breakfast box if you ask the night before.
KALIPUR, 17 KM FROM DIGLIPUR BAZAR· ₹₹· KIDS OK
CASUAL
Turtle Resort Kalipur Restaurant
Signature: Sea-facing thali + turtle-season BBQ
Turtle Resort is an ANIIDCO government property at Kalipur Beach — the prime turtle-nesting beach in A&N (Olive Ridley + Hawksbill + Green + Leatherback all nest Dec-Mar). Its open-air restaurant is the only sit-down meal option directly on Kalipur Beach. Non-residents welcome with reservation.
Tip: Book turtle-season (Dec-Mar) dinner 2 days ahead — the Forest Dept guided turtle-walk starts from this restaurant patio at 10:30 PM. Dinner-walk combo most evenings.
KALIPUR BEACH, 17 KM FROM DIGLIPUR BAZAR· ₹₹· KIDS OK
WHERE TO SLEEP · EDITOR'S PICKS
experience · ₹8,000–₹15,000 PER NIGHT
Anokha Resort & Spa, Diglipur
Resort
We recommend this for its private beach access, multi-cuisine dining, and spa facilities that anchor Diglipur's upmarket stay segment.
“Morning boat to Ross & Smith Islands — at low tide, the sandbar between the two islands is walkable, creating one of India's most photogenic island views.”
value · ₹2,500–₹4,500 PER NIGHT
Island View Guest House
Guesthouse
We recommend this no-frills family-run guesthouse for clean rooms, local breakfast, and honest pricing that maximises your rupee in a remote location.
“Pre-dawn walk on Kalipur Beach (Dec-Mar) with the Forest Dept guide — Leatherback turtles (world's largest marine turtle, 2m long) nest here. Don't use flash; follow the guide's lead.”
location · ₹5,000–₹10,000 PER NIGHT
Kalindi Kunj Beach Resort
Beach Resort
We recommend this for its direct beachfront position on Kalipur Beach, walkable to the main jetty and close to Saddle Peak trailhead.
xfactor · ₹3,000–₹6,000 PER NIGHT
Baratang Island Homestay (day-trip from Diglipur)
Homestay
We recommend this for staying within a Jarawa tribal settlement reserve zone, experiencing mangrove canoe rides and limestone caves you cannot access otherwise.
“Eco-cottage property 5-min walk from Kalipur Beach (A&N's primary turtle-nesting beach — Olive Ridley + Hawksbill + Green + Leatherback all nest Dec-Mar). Saddle Peak summit-trail trail-head 800 m. Forest Dept turtle-walks 10:30 PM in season.”
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LOCAL LEGENDS · WHO MAKES THIS PLACE
Turtle Conservation Volunteers
Wildlife conservation · Kalipur Beach patrollersLocal volunteers patrol Kalipur Beach nightly Dec-Feb to protect olive ridley and leatherback turtle nests from poaching. Visitors can join night patrols with permission.
On the Ground
How to spend your time here, block by block.Diglipur
Pre-dawn
Mount Saddle Peak trek (Andaman highest, 732m) — 6km trek.
Midday
Lunch at forest camp.
Afternoon
Kalipur Beach — turtle nesting.
Evening
Sunset.
If weather turns
Long journey — budget extra day.
For travelers like you
Tap any traveler type below to see how this place feels for them.
CAUTION — long journey, trek.
Best For
Who we'd send here — and why.Best for
Andaman highest peak
Saddle Peak (732m) — Andaman highest point; national park
Best for
Leatherback turtle nesting
Kalipur Beach — rare Leatherback turtle nesting (largest sea turtle species)
Best for
North Andaman base
Only major town in North Andaman — fishing + agriculture economy
Best for
Ross + Smith twin islands
Twin islands connected by sandbar — photographic rarity
ALSO ON NAKSHIQ
Eight more rooms in the magazine.
Guides
Visa, scams, food, packing.
Everything the guidebook won't tell you — written for India in 2026.
Blog
Field notes from the road.
Long-form reads on regions, festivals, and the offbeat circuit.
Road trips
Curated multi-day routes.
Driving itineraries with day-by-day stops, distance, and difficulty.
Collections
Themed reading lists.
Wettest places. Sacred lakes. Solo-female-safe. Curated cuts.
NakshIQ 100
The 100 best destination-months.
India's highest-scoring places, ranked across all 12 months.
The Window
Our weekly newsletter, archived.
One honest spread, every Sunday. The full back catalogue.
Skip list
What we'd skip — and what we'd do instead.
Overhyped places with honest alternatives.
First trip
Planning your first time in India.
Safety, scams, what to wear, food survival, solo female travel.
FEATURED IN COLLECTIONS
Offbeat Andaman Islands
Beyond Havelock — Long Island, Rangat, Diglipur, and Little Andaman for travelers who want the real island experience without the crowds.
ROAD TRIPS THROUGH HERE
North Andaman Explorer
8 DAYS · MODERATE
Offbeat Andaman Complete
10 DAYS · HARD
— The NakshIQ editors
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